Yes! I fabricate every piece of jewelry on this website by hand in my Williamsburg studio. Many pieces also incorporate stones I cut and polished myself. Occasionally I use components from Rio - like delicate chain - but generally speaking I construct all elements from plain old wire and sheet.

Yes and no! I've taken a lot of metalsmithing classes over the years at Pratt in Seattle and at VisArts in Richmond, but I've also figured out how to do some things on my own, either by trial and error or with a little help from some amazing YouTube jewelers and a few good ol' fashioned books on the subject.

At this time, I'm pausing custom requests indefinitely so I can focus on developing original designs, but at the very least I plan to offer made-to-order pieces with customizable sizing (when applicable) in the shop.

No, I use solid or gold-filled metals (gold fill is coated with a significantly thicker layer of gold than plated metals are). And, no matter the type, I disclose what metals I used in all of my listings.

No, I do not use dyed gemstones. I do have a small selection of heat-treated stones in my inventory, but, unlike dyed gemstones, they are considered permanently color-stable.

The vast majority of gemstones are not, but soft and porous stones like turquoise usually are! While some turquoise is sufficiently hard enough not to need stabilization, most of it is simply too brittle and soft to be naturally durable enough for cutting and jewelry use without stabilization. Stabilization can also help to preserve the natural color of the material. Soft and porous stones that are exposed to dirt and skin oils over time can darken and yellow as they absorb these substances. They can also be vulnerable to damage from water penetration and sun exposure. Many of the resins used to stabilize gemstones today have anti-yellowing and UV-protective properties.

I do not recommend it! Even if it holds up to these stresses, why risk damaging your precious investment? Though artisanal jewelry is made of high-quality material, it's still vulnerable to damage from abrasive elements, excessive sun exposure, and to breakage from vigorous activity. So always treat it with gentle care. Store it in a cool, dry, protected place, away from the sun, and away from chemicals and other corrosive substances.

Polish pads or polishing cloths designed for jewelry are ideal. If your pieces have stamped or otherwise indented areas filled with patina, be careful not to push the polishing cloth into those areas, unless you want to wipe away the patina.